Closure delivery system

ABSTRACT

A system for the introduction of a fluid to an internal volume of a suction canister. The canister is provided with sidewalls and a top, the latter possessing a circular opening and cylindrical duct. A fluid-containing vessel is provided having a tubular extending dispensing port sized to pass over and capture the cylindrical duct when the fluid-containing vessel is positioned over and in contact with the suction canister. The fluid-containing vessel further is provided with a fluid reservoir segregated from the tubular extending dispensing port by a circular membrane which is scored so as to rupture by the cylindrical duct upon the application of nominal pressure exerted upon the fluid-containing vessel.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.08/347,944 filed Dec. 1, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,825.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention deals with a system and method for using saidsystem which facilitates the introduction of a fluid to an internalvolume of a suction canister. The term fluid is intended to embrace bothflowable particulate solids as well as liquids. Particulate solidsincluding liquid immobilizing powders can be introduced to the internalvolume of a suction canister without spillage and without risk ofcontamination resulting from the introduction of potential biohazardsfrom the suction canister to its ambient surroundings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of suction canisters in the medical field is widespread. Theprocess of medical and surgical suction finds many applications withinthe modern health care facility. Surgical and obstetrics departments,emergency rooms, intensive care sections, oral surgery departments, andgeneral patient care areas all have daily need for suctioningcapabilities. Beneficial aspects of clinical suction include the removalof load, mainly liquids, small solids, combinations of unwanted tissues,mucopurulent matter, and air-foam or froth. Load is removed from alocation harmful to the patient into a convenient, microbially safereceiving vessel where it may ultimately undergo examination, evaluationand measurement prior to final aseptic disposal.

All clinical suction systems have common components. A suction tip,sometimes referred to as the sucker or catheter, is applied to thepatient and is connected via tubing to the inlet side of the collectionvessel. The collection vessel or suction canister serves as theintermediate source of vacuum which receives aspirated material andallows air passage through its exit portal. It is connected to thevacuum source via tubing and may pass air through some form of pressureregulating device. The presence of a flow shut-off to prevent liquidbeing drawn through the exhaust opening is a desirable component whichcan be fabricated to reduce any possibility of user removal or productnon-function through user misconnection.

As is well appreciated by the medical community, any substance whichoriginates from the human body must be considered as potentially capableof containing, and thereby of transmitting, microorganisms associatedwith body flora. Within a receiving vessel, such as a suction canister,organic body substances can serve as growth substrate if allowed toincubate, thereby increasing bacterial population within the vessel.Extent of such overgrowth will depend, of course, upon how long thecollector is allowed to stand at room temperature prior to emptying it.

From pathologic body sites, the microbial content of suction load may bequite high and contain sufficient pathogens. Bacterial content ofabscesses can include Clostridium, Bacteroides and Staphylococcus. Therespiratory tract can contain Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella,Serratia and a variety of gram negative commensal organisms. The femalegenito-urinary tract can contain a polymicrobic flora similar to that ofthe intestinal tract plus Herpes virus. According to the JointCommission of Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH), any blood or serousfluid must be considered as potentially hazardous and capable oftransmitting hepatitis virus. If not adequately contained, the materialaspirated from the human body has distinct infectious potential when notproperly handled.

In light of the above, there now exists commercially available materialswhich act to solidify and disinfect aspirated materials contained withinsuction canisters. One such product is offered by Isolyser Company, Inc.as its Liquid Treatment System under its trademark LTS® granularabsorbent.

Unfortunately, the introduction of a suitable granulated immobilizingagent to the interior of a vacuum canister is not without its ownproblems. On the one hand, exposing the interior of a vacuum canistercontaining potentially hazardous fluids itself represents a health riskto the medical practitioner. Even without this risk, various granulatedimmobilizing agents can easily spill when transfer is made between theabsorbent containing vessel or reservoir to the vacuum canister whichwould, by necessity, be within the vicinity of the patient andpotentially sensitive electromechanical equipment used for patientmonitoring and control. Such spillage would be unacceptable in today'stypical modern health care facilities.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a means forintroducing suitable immobilizing agents to the interior of a vacuumcanister while preventing any potentially hazardous aspirated materialfrom inadvertently being spilled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This and further objects will be more readily appreciated whenconsidering the following disclosure and appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suitable vacuum canister andimmobilizing agent containing vessel prior to the introduction of theimmobilizing agent therein;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a suitable closure cap used in conjunction withthe fluid containing vessel of FIG. 1.

SUMMARY 0F THE INVENTION

The present invention involves a system for the introduction of a fluidto an internal volume of a suction canister and a method for carryingout the introduction process. Both the system and method include the useof a suction canister having sidewalls and a top. The top of the suctioncanister is provided with ports configured therein, at least one of theports being a fluid introduction port.

The fluid introduction port of the suction canister comprises asubstantially circular opening which is surrounded by cylindrical ductextending outwardly from the top. The system further comprises afluid-containing vessel having a tubular extending dispensing port. Thedispensing port is sized to pass over and capture the cylindrical ductwhen the fluid-containing vessel is positioned over and in contact withthe suction canister. The fluid-containing vessel is further providedwith a reservoir which is segregated from the tubular extendingdispensing port by a substantially circular membrane which is scored soas to rupture by the cylindrical duct upon the application of nominalpressure exerted upon the fluid-containing vessel when the tubularextending dispensing port is positioned over and in contact with thesuction canister.

The invention further includes providing a hole in the fluid reservoirused to equalize pressure within the reservoir to ambient pressure tofacilitate the passage of fluid from the reservoir to the internalvolume of the suction canister. The hole is intended to be covered withan adhesive patch during storage of the fluid-containing vessel in orderto prevent fluid from spilling from the hole when not in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates suction canister 10 having tubing 11 communicatingdirectly to an internal body cavity of a human patient while tubing 12is connected directly to a vacuum source, the vacuum being pulled in thedirection of arrow 13. During normal operation, potentially hazardousbody fluids drained from the patient are collected within the sidewall15 of canister 10 and reside at the bottom of the canister as fluids 14.

In the event that canister 10 is jarred out of position, fluids 14 canspill and even splash upon health care workers providing a potentiallyserious health risk. As such, it has been recognized that such healthrisks can be substantially reduced if not eliminated by the introductionwithin the canister of a suitable immobilizing and perhaps solidifyingcomposition such as Isolyser Company, Inc.'s Liquid Treatment System(LTS ® granular absorbent). Such compositions can be contained withinvessel 20 shown as granulated solid 22.

Prior to the present invention, if immobilizing composition 22 was to beintroduced within canister 10, one would merely pour the fluid into asuitable preexisting orifice within the top of a vacuum canister. Indoing so, however, if the canister is in use, opening a suitable portwould obviously disrupt the vacuum which could cause, in extreme cases,splashing or spillage of fluids 14, again resulting in a potentiallyhazardous condition. Further, unless a funnel was used, invariably, someof immobilizing fluid 22 would spill outside of canister 10 in anenvironment where foreign matter of any kind is simply unacceptable.

Pursuant to the present invention, fluid introduction port 16 isprovided with tubular duct 17 which can be capped (not shown) before,during and after use of the suction canister. When capped, the canistercan remain under vacuum.

Fluid-containing vessel 20 is provided with protruding male dispensingport 24 which is sized as to be capable of pass over and capturecylindrical duct 17 when fluid-containing vessel 20 is positioned overand in contact with suction canister 10.

Pursuant to the present invention, the granulated solid contained withinvessel 20 is prevented from introduction to tubular extending dispensingport 24 by substantially circular membrane 18 which is scored such as byscore lines 32 (FIG. 2).

The hole 40 is created within the side wall of vessel 20 by puncturingthe side wall with an appropriate device designed for such purpose whichideally provides an 1/8 inch diameter aperture for venting.

In operation, fluid-containing vessel 20 is positioned vertically oversuction canister 10 whereupon tubular extending dispensing port 24 iscaused to slide over and capture cylindrical duct 17. At this time,adhesive patch 41 is also removed from vessel 20 exposing hole 40. Uponthe application of nominal pressure to the base of vessel 20, tubularduct 17 is caused to press against circular area 18 causing its rupturealong score lines 22. The term "nominal pressure" is intended toencompass normal human applied pressure which does not require the useof any particular tools such as hammers or otherwise. In other words, itis intended that when dispensing port 24 is caused to capture tubularduct 17, mere hand pressure applied by one's palm against the back ofvessel 20 would be sufficient to cause rupture of circular area 18 alongscore lines 32 allowing direct fluid communication between granularimmobilizing fluid 22 and the interior of canister 10. As fluid is drawninto the suction canister 10 by gravity and vacuum, hole 40 acts toequalize pressure within vessel 20 to ambient to facilitate fluid flow.

As a preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that dispensing port 24 beprovided with a throat of relative narrow diameter 19 to provide asubstantially close fit with tubular duct 17 in order to minimizespillage of the immobilizing fluid during its transfer from vessel 20 tothe interior volume of suction canister 10. In addition, if one desiresto maintain a vacuum within canister 10 during and after the applicationof granulated fluid 22, throat 19 can assist in maintaining a vacuumwith canister 10 as long as vessel 20 remains snugly in place.

As a further preferred embodiment, once fluid communication has beenestablished between vessel 20 and the interior of canister 10, thevarious quadrants of circular area 18 are caused to fold inwardlytowards the interior of vessel 20. In order to facilitate such asituation, dispensing port 24 is provided with a cross-section ofrelatively wide diameter 31 which can accommodate sections of circulararea 18 after rupture.

It is found to be most convenient to provide screwable threads 23connecting cap 30 to the body of vessel 20 to facilitate filling of thereservoir area within vessel 20 in light of the integrity of circulararea 18 prior to rupture.

I claim:
 1. A system for the introduction of a fluid to an internalvolume of a suction canister, said system including a suction canisterhaving sidewalls and a top, said top having ports configured therein, afirst of said ports being connected to tubing which is, in turn, capableof being in communication with an internal body cavity of a humanpatient and second port being connected to a vacuum source for creatinga vacuum within said suction canister, at least one additional portbeing a fluid introduction port, said fluid introduction port comprisinga substantially circular opening, said circular opening being surroundedby a cylindrical duct extending outwardly from said top, said systemfurther comprising a fluid-containing vessel, said fluid-containingvessel having a tubular extending dispensing port sized to pass over andcapture said cylindrical duct when said fluid-containing vessel ispositioned over and in contact with said suction canister, saidfluid-containing vessel further having a fluid reservoir having a holeconfigured therein and being segregated from said tubular extendingdispensing port by a substantially circular membrane, said membranebeing scored so as to rupture by said cylindrical duct upon theapplication of nominal pressure exerted upon said fluid-containingvessel when said tubular extending dispensing port is positioned overand in contact with said suction canister.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein said tubular extending dispensing port is provided with a throatof a relatively narrow diameter so as to provide a substantially closefit with said cylindrical duct to minimize spillage of said fluid duringtransfer of said fluid from said fluid-containing vessel to said suctioncanister.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said tubular extendingdispensing port is provided with a cross-section of relatively widediameter in a region between said membrane and said fluid reservoir toaccommodate sections of said membrane upon its rupture.
 4. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said hole configured in said fluid reservoir is overlaidwith a removable adhesive patch such that said fluid contained withinsaid fluid reservoir is prevented from emanating from said hole whensaid adhesive patch is positioned on said fluid reservoir over saidhole.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said hole is characterized ashaving a diameter of approximately 1/8 inch.
 6. A method for theintroduction of a fluid to an internal volume of a suction canister,said method comprising providing a suction canister having sidewalls anda top, said top having ports configured therein, a first of said portsbeing connected to tubing which is, in turn, capable of being incommunication with an internal body cavity of a human patient and asecond port being connected to a vacuum source for creating a vacuumwithin said suction canister, at least one additional port being a fluidintroduction port, said fluid introduction port comprising asubstantially circular opening, said circular opening being surroundedby a cylindrical duct extending outwardly from said top, said methodfurther providing for a fluid-containing vessel, said fluid-containingvessel having a tubular extending dispensing port sized to pass over andcapture said cylindrical duct, said fluid-containing vessel furtherhaving a fluid reservoir being segregated from said tubular extendingdispensing port by a substantially circular membrane, said membranebeing scored, said fluid reservoir having a hole configured therein,said hole being overlaid with a removable adhesive patch such that saidfluid contained within said fluid reservoir is prevented from emanatingfrom said hole when said adhesive patch is positioned on said fluidreservoir over said hole, said method further comprising removing saidadhesive patch and inserting said cylindrical duct within said tubularextending dispensing port and applying nominal pressure upon saidfluid-containing vessel so as to rupture said circular membranewhereupon said fluid is passed from said reservoir to the internalvolume of said suction canister.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein saidtubular extending dispensing port is provided with a throat of arelatively narrow diameter so as to provide a substantially close fitwith said cylindrical duct to minimize spillage of said fluid duringtransfer of said fluid from said fluid-containing vessel to said suctioncanister.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein said tubular extendingdispensing port is provided with a cross-section of relatively widediameter in a region between said membrane and said fluid reservoir toaccommodate sections of said membrane upon its rupture.
 9. The method ofclaim 6 wherein said hole in said fluid reservoir is of a size tosubstantially equalize pressure within said fluid reservoir to ambientair pressure to facilitate the passage of fluid from said reservoir tothe internal volume of said canister.